Ken LaVigne recently released his book, “Coach the Soul,” which chronicles heartbreaking stories of struggle and triumph of the students in the school’s award-winning intervention program he created, Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS). He is pictured with students Jastin Cheadle, left, Joselyn Jasso and Sky Maestro.

DOWNEY – The Columbia Memorial Space Center will host its annual Spooky Science Night this weekend, Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, from 5-9 p.m.
Games and contests begin at 5 p.m., along with music and food trucks outside the center’s main entrance. The space center will officially open at 6 p.m.

Spooky Science Night includes a variety of activities and demonstrations, including make your own slime, build a bat and ghost, robotics labs, raffles, a maze, and more. All regular exhibits will also be open.

DOWNEY – The Friends of the Downey City Library will host its annual open house and holiday marketplace Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library’s Cormack Room.
They will be selling an assortment of handmade crafts, holiday decorations, stocking stuffers, holiday craft books, and quality recycled gifts and treasures.

There will also be a one-day only raffle on a number of donations from local businesses. All proceeds benefit the Downey City Library.

DOWNEY - The Downey Lions Club is sponsoring a citywide Easter egg hunt March 30, starting at 11 a.m.Thirty giant Easter eggs bearing the Lions Club logo will be hidden throughout Downey.
Residents who find an egg should redeem it for an Easter basket in the Columbia Memorial Space Center parking lot.
The egg hunt is free and the public is encouraged to participate.

DOWNEY - St. Raymond's Catholic Church will host its 31st annual St. Joseph's Table this Sunday inside the Msgr. Bob Gipson Hall.The celebration begins at 9 a.m. with a liturgy celebration and procession, and the viewing of the table from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The blessing of the table is at 12 p.m., and a pasta dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call Charlene Drobeck at (562) 928-1937.

DOWNEY - Tickets are now on sale for Soroptimist International of Downey's annual casino night fundraiser, taking place April 19 at the Rio Hondo Event Center and themed "Havana Nights."Guests are encouraged to dress "island festive" and enjoy hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, casino script, silent auction, raffles and opportunity drawings.
Admission is $40. The party starts at 6:30 p.m.
For tickets, or information on donations and sponsorships, call Mia Vasquez at (562) 862-2611.

DOWNEY - Downey Sister Cities is hosting a fundraiser March 19 at Frantone's as it works to raise money for a trip to Roscommon, Ireland, Downey's newest sister city.The restaurant is donating 25 percent of all food purchases made between 5-10 p.m. to Sister Cities.
Applications will also be available for potential sister city members.

DOWNEY - Number 34 barbershop in Downey will host an international art fair April 28, featuring vendors, art exhibits, gourmet food trucks, live demonstrations and performances, and more.Representatives from several local arts organizations will be in attendance, including the Downey Museum of Art, Nuvein Foundation, South El Monte Arts Posse, Stay Gallery, Bellflower Theater, Downey Symphony, San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival, Orange County Fine Arts Association, the Epic Lounge and other groups associated with art, poetry, dance, theater and film.
Local Southern California artists will be exhibiting their art and vendors will be selling their goods.
The fair is from 11 a.m. to 6 a.m. and is curated by Roy Anthony Shabla.
Number 34 is at 9029 Florence Ave. in Downey.
For more information, e-mail roy@downeyarts.org.

DOWNEY - East Middle School's spring play, the slapstick comedy "Supercomics," will be performed March 18-21.All performances are at 7 p.m., except for the Wednesday matinee at 1:30 p.m.
For more details, e-mail jmoren@dusd.net.

DOWNEY - Local landlords are invited to a free workshop hosted by the Fair Housing Foundation on March 18 at the Downey City Library from 3-5 p.m.Landlords will learn how to seek prospective tenants and information on the rental process and credit checks.
They will also learn about fair housing laws, and their rights and responsibilities as a landlord or property manager.
To RSVP, or for more information, call (800) 446-FAIR.

DOWNEY - Sissi's Medical Uniforms is hosting a fundraiser walk this Sunday outside its location at 9451 Firestone Blvd. in Downey, with proceeds benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.The event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature a DJ, food and vendor tents at the front and rear of the store.
The public is invited.

DOWNEY - Downey Toastmasters will celebrate its 42nd year of improving the communication and leadership skills of local residents with a ceremony March 19 at First Baptist Church of Downey.The event starts at 6 p.m. and will feature Jack Nichols as keynote speaker.
Guests are invited to attend and learn more about Toastmasters, whose membership includes teachers, principals, journalists, attorneys and professionals in other fields.
The Toastmasters organization was founded in Santa Ana in 1924. The Downey chapter opened in 1971.

DOWNEY - Alex Gaytan was guest speaker at this week's Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis meeting, where he spoke of the Kiwanis One Day service project taking place April 6 at Downey High School.Working with the Stop Hunger Now organization, volunteers will be packaging food that will go to hungry families around the world. The group's goal is to package 100,000 in one day.
Volunteers can help package food or walk around the track as part of a related Jog-A-Thon in which local businesses have pledged to donate 25 cents for every lap walked by volunteers.
There is no cost to participate in the fundraiser other than two cans of food, which will be donated to the Downey PTA HELPS room.
For more information, call Alex Gaytan at (562) 396-6042.

The Downey Council PTA announced the winners of its nationally recognized art competition, themed "The Magic of the Moment Is..." during a breakfast meeting Monday in the Warren High library. The event was catered by Warren's culinary department. The PTA also used the occasion to present retiring superintendent Dr. Wendy Doty with a custom quilt embroidered with all 19 school names as a memento and keepsake. Pictured above are PTA presidents and council board member with Doty and council president Tammy Loven.
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Published: March 7, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 47

ROSEMEAD - Don Bosco Technical Institute will host the second annual Yurak Memorial 5K Run at Irwindale's Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area on March 9.In addition to the race, the event will feature a health expo, a kids-only race and live entertainment.
All proceeds from the run will benefit Bosco's Yurak Athletic Center, the school's sports training facility and home of its nine competitive sports teams as well as community exercise classes. It is named after Bill Yurak, Bosco's late coach and athletic director who re-introduced the school's football program after a 34-year hiatus.
Race registration is $35 per person and $30 each for groups of 10 or more. Parking for the first 100 cars is $5, courtesy of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; $10 for each car after that.
Registration includes racing fees, chip timing, finisher medal, commemorative T-shirt and goody bag.
In addition to medals, plaques will be given to the top five male and female finishers and, in a newly added fastest student category, for runners under 18 years of age.
Online registration is available at boscotech.edu and same day, in-person registration is available at the check-in table.
Check-in starts at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9. The kids' 1K Fun Run begins at 10 a.m. The health festival is conducted from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
The Santa Fe Dam is located at 15501 E. Arrow Hwy. in Irwindale.
For more information about the run, call Bosco Tech athletic director Chris Shockley at (626) 940-2101.

DOWNEY - The Downey Christian Women's Club will meet March 13 at 11:30 a.m. inside Los Amigos Country Club.Guest speaker is Arlana Holland, whose topic is "Wizard of Oz in Ruby Red Slippers."
Cost is $15 and includes a buffet lunch. The meeting is open to the public, including men.
Reservations are requested by calling Anita at (562) 861-3414.

Past presidents of the OLPH Guild - Joyce Prokop, Bette Lloyd and Charlene McCluskey - announce the guild's St. Patrick's Day champagne luncheon March 16 to honor its past presidents. It will take place at 11 a.m. at the Rio Hondo Event Center. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by writing to Linda Malme, 9260 Gainford St., Downey CA 90240. Checks should be made payable to Catholic Women's Guild and indicate a preference for chicken piccata or salmon on the check's memo line. Deadline is March 11.
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Published: February 28, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 46

DOWNEY - A 5K run/walk to benefit the TLC Family Resource Center will be held April 13 at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.Check-in starts at 6:30 a.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7:30. The walk starts at 8 a.m.
An awards ceremony will be held at approximately 9:30 a.m., after the last participant crosses the finish line.
Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for students if paid before March 31. Teams of five are $100.
Same-day registration is $40 per adult and $25 for students.
To register online, or for more information, go to dusd.net/tlc.